Ticking Stripe Bench Makeover

I’ve been looking far too long for a small bench to put at the end of my daughters bed. So, when a client offered me this bench I was head over heels in love. I loved the charm and character. It had previously been painted a cream color and so that saved me a step. However, the seat was still covered in what appeared to be the original fabric. It was quite dirty and truthfully, I didn’t see a way to clean it. I knew I couldn’t wait to complete this ticking stripe bench makeover!

I’ve only attempted to tackle a few upholstery projects as I’m most definitely no expert. I started by removing the nail brads using just a screw driver .

Removing the Upholstery Tacks

After those were removed I then started the tedious process of removing all the staples. I did purchase a few tools for this a while back and trust me, they are well worth buying if you plan on doing any sort of upholstery work.

Tools I Used

Make sure to keep all the fabric to use as a template. I decided to use a ticking stripe fabric I picked up at a local fabric store. Try to salvage and reuse the stuffing and seat cushion. If these had been damaged , I would have needed to replace those.

I started by laying my fabric where I wanted it and made sure all the lines were straight. Using a hand held staple gun I purchased at hobby lobby, I began on the sides making sure to tug on the fabric a little as I went around the bench. I did the two sides first before moving to the front and then the back.

Stapling Fabric

I took scissors (you can also use and exacto knife) and removed all the excess fabric, getting as close to the staples as you can.

Completed Project

This is what it looked like once all the steps were finished. This process only took me about an hour or less. The final step will be to purchase some cording to cover up the edges and staples. They sell that at most hobby and fabric stores. You can attach that with glue or staples.

And that’s it! I haven’t tackled any upholstery projects that require piping. That requires sewing skills. Something else on my list to “master”.

I hope this was helpful and informative! If you have any questions I’ll be happy to answer them and if you’ve recently tackled an upholstery makeover, tag me on Instagram so I can see!